4 Secrets to A Flat Stomach

Do you want a flat stomach? I don't know a person who doesn't! People spend millions, if not billions of dollars, each year in the quest for a flat stomach. Right now there are about 200 or more ab exercise devices out there. There's the ab do-it, the ab rock-it, the ab roller, the ab dolly, and so many more. You would think that with all of these amazing new products that most people would be walking around with that nice, lean mid-section they've always wanted. Unfortunately, that's not the case.Most, if not all of these products, will do little or nothing to flatten your stomach. And that's because these exercise contraptions cannot eliminate the layer of fat that lies on top of your abs. In order to be successful at thinning your waistline you must have a basic under standing of how the ab muscles function and how your body burns fat. The first thing that needs to be understood is the difference between fat and muscle. Fat is excess calories and is primarily stored in layers on top of muscle tissue. Muscle is made up of fibers that contract or shorten to produce movement. Fat cannot turn into muscle and muscle cannot turn into fat! However, you can lose muscle and you can gain fat. That's what happens to most people.So if your goal is to thin your waist line and have a nice flat stomach, the first thing you need to do is decrease / eliminate the layers of fat that are on top of your abs. We all have a flat stomach; it's just some of oar’s are covered by excess fat. The most effective way of flattening your stomach is a combination of strength training (with a extra focus on mid-section), cardiovascular exercise (short, hard workouts), and stable blood sugar (keeps you from adding additional fat and makes it easier for the body to use body fat for fuel). 1. You must do some form of progressive strength trainingThe primary function of the ab muscle is to flex your torso forward. However, there are also muscles that flex your torso to the side and muscles that rotate your torso. Often times you see people on their ab roller every day doing hundreds of crunches or sit-ups.If you want to effectively strengthen your stomach you need to incorporate the following types of exercises:• 1-2 forward flexion exercises (crunch, sit-up, etc.)• 1-2 side flexion exercises (side bends, side crunches, etc.)• 1-2 rotational exercises (trunk rotations, standing twists, etc.)The abs, are muscles just like any other and should be worked at most 3 times per week. You also want to make sure you are training them progressively, working them harder each time.2. Use short, hard cardio workouts to increase metabolismCardio workouts are important because they CAN, if done correctly, increase your metabolism for 4-24 hours or more! This means you are less likely to store any excess calories as body fat because they are more likely to be used by your elevated metabolism. Plus, you are more likely to burn off some excess body fat.Below is a sample interval workout that can be done with just about any activity (walking, bicycling, swimming, stair climbing, etc.).Warm up at easy pace 2-5 minutes à Perform 30 seconds of hard work (almost as hard as possible) à perform 1 minute of moderate work (recovery time-catch breath)à Repeat this process 6-10 times à Cool down at an easy pace for 2-5 minutes 3. Stable blood sugar is the keyAnd most importantly, you must stabilize your blood sugar! This is by far the most important factor when it comes to burning away that excess body fat and keeping it off! To effectively stabilize your blood sugar you must feed your body frequently; like every 2-3 hours. The key is to give your body only what it needs at that time. Your body burns calories 24 hours a day, so, why would you only feed it once or twice a day? Give your body the fuel it needs: vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries, whole grains, and lean proteins (chicken, fish, lean beef, eggs, etc.). Many people are too hung up on how much fat is in food, or how healthy of a choice it is. Calories are calories and it doesn’t matter where they come from. If there’s extra… where’s it going? Yup, you guessed it… body fat! This is not to say that what you eat is not important because it is, it just doesn’t have that much of an affect when it comes to fat loss. Try to make healthy choices whenever possible, but don’t feel like if you eat a cheeseburger it is guaranteed to be stored as fat.4. Get the help of a professionalUnfortunately, most people don’t know enough about the human body, nutrition, or effective exercise to meet their health and fitness goals. Ask yourself this one question, “Am I happy with my current progress or condition?” If you’re not, you should consider getting the help of a qualified personal fitness professional. Don’t depend on the information you get from magazines or from your local gym/ health club. A qualified fitness professional can help you achieve your health and fitness goals, and in less time than you would imagine. If you are serious about your health and fitness goals, and you are ready for that flat stomach, I recommend you start implementing the 4 strategies listed in this article. These 4 strategies can help you take control of your metabolism and burn off that excess body fat and having you looking and feeling great! If you would like to receive more information on how to lose those love handles please call me at 240-731-3724 or e-mail me at jesse@achieve-fitness.com

4 Keys to Weight Loss

First off, let me start by saying this list is by no means exhaustive. However, if you can manage these 4 important components of a weight loss program, you will be on your way to a slimmer body.Build the FoundationMany people begin a weight loss program with their basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the amount of energy (calories) your body uses in a resting state, in the gutter. The key then is to increase your BMR so that you are burning more calories throughout the day, every day. Increase the amount of calories you burn, increase the amount of fat you lose. Makes sense, yes? The best way to increase your BMR is through adding muscle tissue. Females often shudder at the idea of adding muscle due to their fear of becoming “bulky.” Relax babe! It’s a little harder to add that kind of muscle mass than you think. Besides, a little muscle mass goes a long way toward achieving a leaner body. And this is what you want, right?Specificity of ProgramNot just any exercise program will do for weight loss. Simply burning calories is not good enough. The program must be designed to elicit specific hormonal responses that are conducive to weight loss. I’ll give you a hint…hours and hours of cardio is NOT the answer!ConsistencyThis one pretty much speaks for itself. Have you ever achieved anything great with an inconsistent effort? Unless you consider failure a great achievement, you probably haven’t. You must exercise consistently to get the results you want! It amazes me how many people put so little effort into their exercise program and complain about not seeing results. Even the most well designed programs are useless if they are not adhered to on a consistent basis.DietAgain, this one goes without saying. You can’t expect to achieve a leaner body by continuing your unhealthy eating habits. This isn’t to say that you should drop everything in your diet immediately and exchange it for “healthy” food. You would end up miserable and revert back to your old habits within a month. Instead, practice moderation and don’t overindulge. Also, phase certain unhealthy foods out of your diet while introducing healthier foods. The transition will be easier to make and a lot easier to maintain.

4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein

Are you concerned about taking care of your body before and after strenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplements that contain additives and possible side effects?If you are interested in better health and improved physical fitness you have surely heard that bodybuilders and other athletes are turning to a simple, natural supplement called whey protein.WHY DO ATHLETES USE WHEY PROTEIN?Protein levels are depleted through exercise. Muscles require amino acids to prevent deterioration, give endurance and build mass. Proteins supply these amino acids to the muscles which is why athletes use whey protein.WHAT IS WHEY PROTEIN?Commercial whey protein comes from cow's milk. Whey is the by-product of making cheese and was usually thrown away as a waste product. Now researchers know that whey protein is high quality, natural protein that is rich with amino acids essential for good health and muscle building. It is naturally found in mother's milk and also used in baby formula. It is being considered for use as a fortifier of grain products because of its considerable health benefits and bland flavor.Although protein is also found in other foods such as meat, soy and vegetables, whey protein is proven to have the highest absorption (digestion) levels in comparison to all others.WHO SHOULD CONSIDER USING WHEY PROTEIN?Whey protein has many health benefits including immune support, bone health, sports health, weight management and overall well being.Because amino acids are 'building blocks' for the human body it is sometimes used by patients to speed up the healing of wounds or burns.The high quality protein that comes from whey makes it a recommended choice for those who need optimal benefits from restricted diets including diabetics, those on weight management diets and even ill patients not able to consume enough protein in their diet to assist with healing.CAN WHEY PROTEIN BE DANGEROUS?Whey protein is a food and so it does not have have the risks associated with other supplements. That said, too much of anything carries risks. Extremely high use of whey protein can overload the liver which can cause serious problems. Moderation is always recommended.If you are lactose intolerant you might try whey protein isolate which has less than 1% lactose and should be tolerable for most users.Whey protein is a natural and healthy way to bring protein into your diet and increase well being.The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

4 Golden Rules of Natural Dieting

Natural dieting is the easiest and best form of dieting. It doesn't involve buying expensive pills or diet shakes, instead, it saves you money. There are four basic rules for natural dieting.1. No soda - No excuses here. Soda is bad for you, period. Lots of sugar and calories, and nothing beneficial. Stop drinking soda immediatly, no buts. Drink water instead. Water is what your body craves and what it needs. It will make you healthier and feel better, and is a lot less expensive.2. Limit your coffee - Those fancy Starbucks fraps have a gross amount of calories in them. Even regular coffee does you no good. Try not to have more than one cup a day, and definatly don't drink any fraps or similiar fancy drinks.3. Limit fast food - I'm sure everyone already knows this, but fast food is bad for you. It's basically poison. Try not to eat fast food more than once a week. If you do, order a water with it instead of a soda.4. Get exercise - Pretty straight foward. You don't have to spend an hour at the gym everyday (though it is good for you), just some simple exercising each day. Do you have a dog? If so, then take it for a 20 minute walk every night. Dogs need to be walked and it will definatly help you out. You will lose weight, get in shape, and feel better. And it's free.Simple, easy, and free. It's as easy as that. Coffee is expensive and has tons of calories, soda is, basically, poison to your body. Fast food is like swallowing chunks of fat, and exercise is, of course, a logical healthy thing to do. So what are you waiting for? Diet naturally. To learn more about natural dieting, visit Natural Dieting, or learn more dieting tips and tricks.

4 Crazy Things You Must Do To Lose Weight

1. Start Eating a Lot More!That’s right, you read it correctly…YOU MUST EAT MORE—A whole lot more than you’re eating right now. You have to eat 5-7 meals a day to fire up your metabolism to lose weight.Your body needs a constant supply of energy to burn fat, and if you don’t eat a meal every two or three hours…Your metabolism will become so slow that you’ll gain weight just by looking at food.The sooner you start eating more…the sooner you’ll be able to eat the foods you like without worrying about gaining weight.Now I don’t mean for you to eat 5 large dinner sized meals everyday. You should try to eat 5-7 smaller 250 – 400 calorie meals every 2-3 hours.2. Start Playing Golf.Before you say “what the heck does golf have to do with me losing weight”…Let me explain.People always tell me that they don’t have time to exercise, their too tired to exercise, or they don’t feel like exercising.But they always find time to have fun. Look, you don’t have to get on a treadmill everyday, take aerobics, or swim laps to lose weight….…you can lose weight playing golf, playing with your kids, and you can even go to the mall shopping.What do all those things have in common? They’re all things that involve you moving around just enough to burn fat. Notice that TV, reading, and sleeping weren’t one of the things I mentioned.Think about it…If you went shopping at your local mall everyday you could easily lose 1-2 lbs. a week just by walking around the mall a couple of times (That’s of course if you don’t make too many trips to the food court).What about playing golf (without the cart), racquetball, or going out dancing everyday? That’s an easy (fun) weight loss of about 2 lbs a week right there.Try to find something that you like to do that gets you up off you’re butt and do it everyday for at least 30 minutes (The longer the more fat you’ll burn).3. Stop Losing Weight and Start Burning Fat.If you want to lose weight… just go on a diet, sit in a steam room for a couple of hours, or take some side-effect infested weight loss pill.If you want to look better as you lose weight…then you need to focus on burning fat.Diets, steam rooms, and pills cause you to lose muscle and water weight. Losing muscle not only makes you look worse but it also lowers your metabolism making it easier for you to gain weight.Have you ever noticed the people who lose weight on these “lose 30lbs in 8 days” programs still have flabby arms, a saggy butt, and pot belly? The reason why is that these programs tend to help people lose more good-looking muscle than ugly body fat.Steam rooms cause you to lose water weight which you’ll gain back after you drink a couple glasses of water.The best way to focus on burning fat is to lose no more than 2lbs a week. If you lose more than 2lbs a week you will only start to lose muscle and water.A basic beginner’s fat loss plan would be to eat more and play golf everyday (please see the first two things you must do to lose weight).4. Just Keep on Saying SO THATFirst, ask yourself Why you want to lose weight and after you come up with a reason why just keep on saying SO THAT.For example—Why Do you want to lose weight* I want to lose weight to look better SO THAT…* I can feel more confident about myself SO THAT…* I can be the best looking person at my high school reunion SO THAT…* I can see the surprised looks on the faces of my classmates SO THAT …* I may be able to go on a date with the person I had a crush on in high schoolCan you see what’s happening here? The more times you say SO THAT the more and more motivated you’ll become to lose weight. I don’t know about you but if you can come up with at least three SO THATS nothing will stop you from losing weight.Copyright 2005 Adrian Bryant

3 Ways To Life Happy And Healthy With Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Let me ask you something. What do Tyra Banks, Camille Grammer and Cybil Sheppard all have in common? They all suffer from irritable bowel syndrome – along with about 20% of the rest of the population, according to recent studies.I’m the IBS Diva. And I say having irritable bowel syndrome doesn't have to be a death sentence. There are ways not only to cope but to thrive and live a happy, healthy life. Yes, I know, it can be a bit embarrassing at times – always searching for the nearest bathroom whenever you go out, getting up in the middle of movies and only eating certain foods. The IBS Diva doesn’t let that get in the way of her good time, though. And you shouldn’t let get in the way of yours, either.Here are the IBS Diva’s three simple pieces of advice for coping with irritable bowel syndrome.1. You’re still fabulous, honey. Act like it. Change your mindset about this functional disorder. You’re not an outcast. You’re a tough, no-nonsense leader. Believe it.2. Don’t stress – just rest. Just like the IBS Diva, you need your beauty sleep. Make sure you get at least eight hours per night. Let your body rejuvenate and heal during the night. Then you can wake up fabulous like the IBS Diva.3. Keep searching. Even the IBS Diva searches for solutions for irritable bowel syndrome. Let’s face it. Having this disorder is no walk in the park. But there are ways to cope and live a happy, healthy life. Search for them while you’re on your journey to self acceptance. It can only help.Honey, you have to look at irritable bowel syndrome as a challenge that you must overcome, not as a death sentence. With the proper mind set and a willingness to try new and effective dietary changes and medical solutions, you can live a healthy and happy life with IBS.

3 Ways to Exercise On A Busy Schedule

Most exercise programs are started with the best intentions. So why then, do treadmills turn into storage platforms, and walking shoes are worn only to Saturday night movies? The answer is more of a matter of poor planning then low motivation. For exercise to be viable, it should include activities you enjoy, be accessible, and fit easily into your daily schedule. Here are 3 three ideas:Arm your exercise space for battle. What would it take for your treadmill to be used? What about the weights? Maybe all you need is for your exercise space/room to be more inviting. You could accomplish this by decorating. Add color, texture, and other elements that will appeal to your senses-sight, smell, and sound. Do simple things like keeping a water pitcher on a table, or adjusting the light to fit your mood. If instead of comfort, your worry is infringing on productive time, consider adding a television with a VCR. This allows you to watch the news or watch a movie that you wouldn't normally have time to watch. You can view it in 20-30 minute increments. View it only when exercising, forcing you back on the equipment to see what happens next. It might be the motivating factor you've been looking for. Another possibility is to listen to a book on tape or recorded meeting notes through a headset. You can also record notes or the next day's "to do" list as you think of things while exercising.Walk whenever possible. This includes the old stand bys like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking a distance from your destination, and delivering messages in your office by foot instead of by email. You can also walk on your lunch hour and breaks instead of sitting down to eat or snacking. To get your lunchtime nutrition, eat a quick salad at your desk before you take off. Bringing your food from home will save drive time to a restaurant, enabling you to get more from your breaks. Invite co-worker to walk with you.Choose active family activities. Instead of eating a big dinner out-eat a healthy meal at home and then take a walk around the neighborhood together. You'll save the calories of the large restaurant portions, the time it takes to drive to an establishment, and gain that much need family time. Other "active" activities include walking around at the zoo, hiking on local nature preserves, bicycling, ice-skating, and swimming. The list is endless. Let these types of activities replace television watching and video games.Turn your good intentions into action. You'll be healthier and will improve your overall well-being. You may end up with better work relationships as a result of hand delivering your messages. You will certainly strengthen family relationships by focusing on your time together. By investing a little time each day in the development of a healthy lifestyle, you could add years to your life, enabling you to enjoy the days when you no longer have such a chaotic schedule.

3 Ways To Ease Depression Isolation

One of the hardest symptoms to deal with during a depressive episode is feeling disconnected from reality. This feeling causes sufferers to retreat further and further into their own world. They become isolated from their loved ones and friends and the loneliness deepens the depression.Here’s three ways to stop isolation from making depression worse.1. Have at least one person you can turn to and have regular contact with 3-4 times a week. Someone you can call when you need to talk, someone who can be with you just watching TV or going to a movie. You don’t have talk about how you feel if you don’t want to and be clear that you don’t want to be questioned about your feelings. Hopefully, they’ll understand this and will be there for you when you need them.2. There will be times when you just want to shut out the world and have your own space. Many sufferers just want to be alone in a quiet room such as their bedroom. There’s nothing wrong with this at all. But try not to make it a daily or regular habit. Schedule this once, maybe twice a week at most and be strict with it. It’s about a balance. Yes, shut the world out for a day or two each week. For the rest of the week, be around people, especially the special person we discussed in the first paragraph.3. When you do shut the world out, do it in a way that helps you rather than hurts you. So, instead of retiring to a dark room and lying in bed to brood about your problems, try these: Mind puzzles – logic problems, crosswords, spatial puzzles etc. – jigsaw puzzles, draw or paint, play a musical instrument, write stories, watch TV or a movie, or read a book or a magazine and listen to some music. With a book and music, avoid anything too heavy or deep. Keep it nice and light. In this way, isolation doesn’t become a period of deep introspection where you worry or fret about problems or go over the past or beat up on yourself. You get the peace and tranquillity but not the torment that can accompany it during a depressive episode.If you feel isolated and that life seems like a “virtual reality”, then please put these techniques to use. Isolation is a part of depression and the key to lessening the impact is to understand how it happens and use it so it helps you beat depression instead of keeping you trapped in it.Copyright 2006 Christopher Green

3 Things you want to know about Cholesterol

You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you? You would want to open the book and read part of it to get a better idea about what is going on, right? Well, judging a book by its cover is what happens when you look at LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and decide that this is the only - or even the best indicator of heart disease. Worse yet, you are told you MUST lower your LDL cholesterol level. #1 Naturally produced by the body, cholesterol is needed for a variety of functions.-1 Your body uses cholesterol to make testosterone and other essential hormones and is one of the best health and youth enhancing strategies for aging men and women. -2 As you age your body naturally starts to lose its ability to produce as much testosterone and you start to lose energy, strength, sexual desire and sexual capacity.-2 #2 Because the fact is cholesterol alone is not THE indicator of heart disease. Cholesterol which has been oxidized is the problem. Oxidation of cholesterol is the more specific problem which would enable the cholesterol to become "sticky" and start to form plaque in the walls of the arteries.-3 We have all seen an apple cut open and watch as it turns brown - this is oxidation. Your body will oxidize on the inside unless steps are taken to help prevent this. One can keep oxidation of cholesterol in check by incorporating plenty of anti-oxidants in your consumption of food and supplements.-1, 3 A few of the most powerful anti-oxidants are:
CoenzymeQ10 Vitamin E Vitamin A Vitamin C
Low cost, safe and proven food sources high in omega 3's and the right fats to help keep your cholesterol levels in balance-1, 3
Garlic Ginger Olive oil Olives Almonds Walnuts Flaxseed Eggplant Okra Eggs Fresh fruit
These are better, safe, proven and natural ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem. A diet heavy in grains and processed foods will actually raise your blood cholesterol levels more than foods which contain cholesterol. A diet low in cholesterol will do you little if anything health wise -4 Focusing on raising your HDL cholesterol levels because as you raise your good cholesterol it decreases the concern about your LDL levels of cholesterol and gives you a better total cholesterol profile. -5 Some of the best ways to improve your “Good” or HDL cholesterol is through:
Exercise. Vitamin D Niacin Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with raising HDL cholesterol levels - 6
There is a big difference between the cholesterol your Body produces and dietary cholesterol from the food you eat.#3 Two factors which are of greater concern and are better indicators of heart disease are -31. A measure of inflammation in the blood stream called C-reactive protein2. An amino acid produced by the body called homocysteine.High levels of C-reactive protein and high levels of homocysteine are better leading indicators and also contribute to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels leading to heart disease -3 As reported in the July, 2003 issue of JAMA, a study was conducted which showed that a diet high in plant sterols, fiber and almonds was clearly the better way to reduce cholesterol and heart disease over statin drugs.-8And finally …Policosanol – An organic plant alcohol from sugar cane is one of the best natural ways to reduce bad cholesterol levels-7 Naturally, as you realize the power of these proven ways to prevent cholesterol from becoming a problem, you will find yourself taking action.References 1- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men – “The biggest drug and the biggest lie” august 4th, 2003. 2- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men – “Ignore the hype focus on cholesterol that matters” April 4, 2004 3- Hyman, Mark M.D., Liponis, Mark M.D., Ultra-Prevention, The 6-Week Plan that will Make you healthy for life, New York, Scribner, 2003 4- Dr. Al Sears Health Confidential for Men – “Teaching Nutrition?” March 15, 2004 5- Framingham Heart Study conducted on healthy people in the 1950s. cholesterol misleading as only one of 240 factors in heart disease. http://www.researchprotection.org/infomail/03/07/11.html 6- Castiglioni A and Neuman WR. "HDL Cholesterol: What Is Its True Clinical Significance?" Emergency Medicine, January 2003:pp 30-42. 7- Policosanol safe alternative just one of many. http://www.life-enhancement.com/article_template.asp?ID=663 New study finds that this sugar-cane extract safely lowers cholesterol levels. By Aaron W. Jensen, Ph.D. References PR Newswire, March 5, 2002. White Plains, NY. Omar MA, Wilson JP. FDA adverse event reports on statin -associated rhabdomyolysis. Ann Pharmacother 2002 Feb;36(2):288-95. Gouni-Berthold I, Berthold HK. Policosanol: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent. Am Heart J 2002;143:356-65. Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive summary of the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). J Am Med Assoc 2001;285:2486-97. 8- Jenkins D. et al., Effects of a dietary portfolio of cholesterol- lowering foods vs Lovastatin on serum lipids and c-reactive protein. JAMA 2003; 290: 502-510 9- – Health Sciences Institute - Jenny Thompson – Article “Broken Ground” 3/11/2004

3 Steps to Permanent Weight Loss

There is not another subject on the planet more confusing than weight loss. There are literally thousands and thousands of books written on the topic and each one disagrees with the next. But, there is a secret to permanent weight loss and it is simple.The real secret to permanent weight loss is…The ability to sustain the daily practice of healthy, moderate eating and exercise habits long enough to attain the results you desire, and then continue performing these habits in order to maintain your results for lifelong success!There is it. I know, it sounds simple but it is not! We live in a fast food, everything-should-be-easy, bigger-is-better society. Gluttony and instant gratification are the norm. I believe there are three obstacles that thwart our ability to practice the healthy, moderate eating and exercise habits necessary to attain the results we desire, they are:1) Getting most of our pleasure in life through the food we eat 2) Lack of long-term self-discipline in the areas of health and fitness3) Lack of long-term self-motivation in the areas of health and fitnessLet’s take a closer look at each of these. OBSTACLE ONE Most people are so busy day-in and day-out that the food they eat is their greatest pleasure. This is a true danger that prevents permanent weight loss. If you’re burning the candle at both ends, rushing from one commitment to the next all day long, when you sit down to eat you want it to be extra good, because you deserve it. SOLUTION ONEFind ways to get more pleasure in a day. Have ten minutes of quiet time everyday reading your favorite book or magazine, spend a few minutes with a friend on the phone, or begin a new hobby that is fun. It doesn’t take a lot of time; just find other ways to load up on pleasure so that you don’t have to load up on food.OBSTACLE TWOMost people do not have the chip in their brains that allows for joyful self-discipline in the areas of health and fitness. Most of us have to be disciplined to get to work on time, meet deadlines, follow traffic laws, but not to limit food or exercise regularly. Some rationalize that since they have to be so disciplined in other ways they don’t want to be when it comes to their food and exercise.SOLUTION TWOTo establish long-term self-discipline you must focus on the joy of the reward you will get at the end of the road, not the challenge of the journey. So make a list of the top ten rewards you will gain when you lose weight. You must also ask yourself what it costs you to be overweight. Does it cost you your self-respect? Your joy and aliveness in life? Has it cost you a relationship or a job? Remembering the rewards and the cost makes practicing self-discipline a lot easier. OBSTACLE THREE It’s easy to be motivated around January 1st, but what happens to all that motivation around March 1st? Or the first time a brownie passes by? Believe it or not, most people are not the master of their own motivation. They think just because they want it that it is motivation enough, and it is not.SOLUTION THREEYou must reinvent your motivation every day. To do this write the top ten reasons you want to lose weight and keep it off. Also, make a list of the people who motivate you to want to lose weight and why. Review these lists, along with the ones you created above, in the morning and in the evening. Your motivation is ever evolving so what motivated you last week might not be motivating next week. So revise your lists regularly.When you overcome these obstacles you will lose weight because over time, you will find other ways to get pleasure in your life, you will practice positive self-discipline and learn to live on less food and love it, and you will reinvent the motivation everyday to keep it all going.

3 Steps to Identify Supplements that Lack Scientific Evidence for their Reported Benefits

This article shows you a simple but reliable method to identify supplements that do not have scientific support for their alleged benefits.Step 1: Go tohttp://www.pubmed.orgwhich is a National Library of Medicine (United States) web site where you can search for articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.Why check PubMed? Because the National Library of Medicine carefully selects only high-quality journals that offer value to medical scientists around the world. Selection criteria are detailed on this web page:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/jsel.htmlStep 2: Once on the PubMed web site, search for the generic (scientific) name of the supplement in question. Supplement manufacturers must list the scientific name for their supplement's ingredients on the label and in advertisements. Supplements often contain many ingredients but usually only a few provide the purported benefits. Those are the ingredients you want to evaluate--they are often the same ones the manufacturer highlights in advertisements.Step 3: This is the step some supplement companies don't want you to know. Before you click on the "Search" button at PubMed.org, limit your search to studies that utilize the right research methodology with the right population.The right research methodology is a randomized controlled trial (the double-blind, placebo control group design fits under this category) and the right population is human beings.Specifying human subjects is important because you want to know if the ingredients in a supplement have been shown to produce the advertised benefits in real live human beings--not just in rats pressing levers for food pellets or in a "case study" with one person.This is not to say that basic science research, which is often conducted initially with animals, is unimportant. On the contrary, such research usually serves as a crucial building block for subsequent clinical research with humans. But basic science research does not provide scientific evidence for a supplement's beneficial health effects on human beings. Only research with human subjects, using randomized controlled trials, can offer such evidence.On the PubMed.org search page, click on the "Limits" tab located under the "Search" box. You will see a number of drop-down menus. First click on the Publication Type menu and then select Randomized Controlled Trial. Next click on the drop-down menu labeled, Humans or Animals and click on Humans.An ExampleMorinda citrifolia is the scientific name for a popular ingredient in a nutritional supplement. First search on PubMed for Morinda citrifolia, without placing Limits on your search.How many results did you receive?The count was 69 at the time I wrote this article. Looks impressive, huh?But now search for Morinda citrifolia after first placing Limits on the search as described above, so that you receive only those studies which provide more definitive scientific evidence for the positive effects of Morinda citrifolia.How many journal articles did you find searching with the specified limits? I found 1.Thus, out of 69 articles found on PubMed.org, only one provides some evidence for Morinda citrifolia's beneficial effects. In addition, those results were obtained with a very specific patient population. Thus, in order to conclude that scientific evidence exists for Morinda citrifolia's efficacy, scientists would need to conduct additional randomized controlled trials with diverse patient populations.ConclusionThe simple research method described in this article will help you determine if a given supplement possesses sufficient scientific evidence for its purported benefits.

3 Steps To Great Abs!

Myth: You need to work your abs everyday.Truth: The best way to develop abdominal strength and tone is to work your abs to exhaustion. You need to allow your abdominal muscles to recover..this equates to 24-48 hours of rest time between workouts. Increase the intensity of your workouts gradually. If you overdo it, not only will you be excessively sore (a little soreness is a good thing, it signifies that you have worked the muscle enough for it to repair itself and become stronger in the process), but you may discourage yourself because you will need more rest time than normal and it will be harder to do your ab exercises.Myth: The more situps you do, the better.Truth: Doing hundreds of situps will not help you lose abdominal fat! Situps actually do little to increase strength because they focus on edurance and are inefficient; it is hard to overload the abdominal muscles doing situps. Thus, you will be wasting your time. Crunches (yes, crunches) are the best way to overload the abs and work the entire midsection, whether you do them on the floor or on a Swiss Ball (my personal favorite!). There are many variations of crunches, and each targets different parts of the abdominal muscles. While doing crunches, it is imperative that you focus on proper technique and gradually increasing resistance. Using this method, you can fatigue your abdominal muscles using fewer reps.Myth: Situps are the key to getting "cut" ab muscles.Truth: If you have layers of abdominal fat covering your abs, situps, or any other exercise, for that matter, won't do you much good. For a strong, cut midsection, keep in mind these tips:1. Train your abs with resistance. If you are a beginner, try crunches without resistance first. As you get stronger, then move to more challenging moves or crunches using a Swiss Ball.2. You need consistent cardiovascular exercise (helps to burn fat faster, performed at 80% of your maximum heart rate).3. Cut the fat in your diet to shed body fat and create definition. This is the only way your abs will show through! Remember, great abs are made in the kitchen!

3 Methods for Clearing Mental Clutter

Many adults with ADD have a hard time slowing down their brains. Thoughts often come at whirlwind speed, and it can be hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand when so many other thoughts are floating around in the brain. I call this "mental clutter."Often times, mental clutter is made up of worries and bad feelings. (Very few people get overwhelmed by the amount of positive thoughts in their heads!) Regrets of the past and worries about the future can easily overshadow the present moment. Self-doubt can also take up a lot of space in the mind. When an excess of these types of thoughts take over in the brain, it can be stressful, upsetting, and sometimes even paralyzing. The best way to clear this mental clutter is to process the thoughts, rather than letting them swim around in your brain. Doing so will allow you to focus on the present moment, and feel more calm and centered. The following 3 methods have proven very helpful in clearing mental clutter.1. WriteA great way to clear mental clutter is to transfer the thoughts from your brain onto paper. This can be in the form of a to-do list, an email to a supportive person in your life, or a journal entry. When the thoughts are recorded, there is no need for your brain to hold on to them. Additionally, if you feel weighed down by a situation (like an argument with a family member) writing about it can help you process your feelings. You can get a better grip on the events, how you feel, and what you might have done differently. A page or two might be all it takes. 2. TalkMany people with ADD are "verbal processors." This means that we often work through thoughts and feelings by talking them out. It helps to have an objective person to talk to, who can mirror your thoughts and talk them out with you. However, the very act of talking is often what does the trick, so having someone to talk to isn't always necessary. Many people find that talking into a tape recorder suits their needs. Others talk to plants or animals. (I talk to my dog so much that I'm surprised she doesn't talk back by now!) 3. MoveSome ADDers can clear mental clutter by moving. Something as simple as a 10-minute walk can give the brain a needed jolt. Others may find that they feel free of extraneous thoughts after a visit to the gym. The time alone combined with the physical activity proves to be a successful formula for some ADDers to work through their mental clutter. It's best to experiment with the different methods and see which work best for you in the different areas of your life. The important thing to know is that with a little time-out, mental clutter can be cleared!

3 Little Known Tips To Buying Fitness Equipment

Did you know that buying fitness equipment for your home isn’t really that difficult? It’s true that the world of fitness equipment can seem like a maze at times and that there are literally hundreds of different types of fitness equipment pieces that might work well for your home arrangement. However, with a little guidance, the process really isn’t that hard and you will be amazed at the bargains that you can find if you just dig a little deeper than the average consumer is usually prepared to. Let’s take a look at some tips to help you out in your quest for new fitness equipment. 1. Look at used equipment. This is where some good deals can be found. Fitness equipment can obtain a weird status in a person’s home. They might have been really excited to buy it initially and dreams of a fit body and monthly gym savings might have filled their head. However, after 3 months, the equipment often sits vacant in that person’s home. Used equipment can be a really good deal due to the fact that it’s often times almost as good as new but now it’s for sale. To you. For cheap. Check out newspapers, Ebay, and other places; compare prices and get a deal. 2. Consider commercial fitness equipment. Often times, you can buy the same equipment that your local gym has. Imagine, you can have that same (gasp!) Stairmaster that has dogged you for years at the local Ballys, right in your basement. This might be appealing to some who have the capital to invest in a large piece of equipment. If you no longer have to pay a $50 monthly fee to go to a gym every month, this might be a really smart investment. Look into commercial equipment, you might be pleasantly surprised. 3. The first two points are almost worthless without considering the financing of your new fitness equipment. When looking to finance your new set of fitness equipment there are tons of important factors to keep in mind. You really don’t want to be paying too much for equipment that might be found at a cheaper price (after everything is considered) elsewhere.

3 Little Known Tips for Helping with Sleep Apnea Research

This may come as a surprise to you, but sleep apnea is more common than you think. Yes, while it might seem like you are the only one who suffers from sleep apnea, we’d be willing to be that at least a few of your close neighbors suffer from it to. Well, the information age now allows you to listen to thousands of different opinions and possible cures for whatever ails you. Sleep apnea is no different. Follow these three tips and you should be all set in your quest for more information.1) Start with a basic search on multiple websites. Try the regulars like Yahoo, Google, and MSN. Try searching for ‘sleep apnea symptoms’ or ‘sleep apnea treatment.’ Getting multiple sources of information can only make your information quest easier. Some search engines are better for some types of information (Google seems to be especially handy for scientific searches) while others are not. Get a lot of different information sources.2) Another great source of information for everything is wikipedia.org. While we definitely don’t recommend trying to treat your sleep apnea yourself based upon the information you find (always see a physician, we aren’t physicians and can’t give a medical opinion), wikipedia.org is a good place to start looking for any information as it is “user edited”. “User edited” means that anyone can conceivably change the information on wikipedia.org. It’s almost like a democracy of information presentation. It’s definitely worth a look in your sleep apnea research.3) Don’t forget to look for information specifically on understanding sleep apnea. If you can’t understand what sleep apnea is, you are going to have a tough time even if you follow tips #1 and #2 to the letter. Get informed and try to understand what sleep apnea is. There are a ton of great resources out there if you look hard enough.

3 Frequently Asked Questions About ACL Surgery

Do I really need surgery?There several things that will affect this answer. Do you plan on playing sports or are you happy giving them up and doing things less stressful on the knees? If you can give up the sports that are rough on the knees, you might get by without surgery. Does your knee "go out" a lot? If it does and you have little control over it, surgery would probably be your best bet. If you would like to try rehabbing your knee and wearing a brace to see if that works, go ahead. Just keep in mind that every time your knee goes out of place, there is more damage being done. That is the route I took and I'm a little bit sorry about it. I ended up doing a lot of damage that I could have avoided.Should I use general anesthesia or regional?Either way will work. There are people on both sides of the fence that will tell you one is better than the other. Don't always listen, it's a very personal choice. With general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and have no recollection of the surgery. It will feel like you have simply blinked and the surgery will be over. General anesthesia has a bad effect on some people though. It could make you sick to your stomach for a few days. Doctors don't know exactly why or how general anesthesia does what it does, so there is always a slight risk. Some people are afraid they won't wake up. But the risk is very, VERY small.Regional anesthesia can be given to you a couple different ways. It will either be an epidural or a spinal. They are very similar. Both are injected into your back. As a result, the pain signals from your knee never reach the brain. They are blocked by the regional anesthesia. This will allow you to be "awake" for the surgery. Now I say "awake" because you can choose your level of awareness. You can choose to have a regional anesthetic and still not be aware or remember a single thing from your surgery. This is done by giving you a sedative. The anesthesiologist will probably ask you what level you want. 1. Awake, Aware, but unconcerned. 2. Awake, Somewhat aware, not concerned. 3. Awake, and not aware. 4. Hammered. (They will give you enough of the sedative to make you sleep, but if you were to wake up during the surgery, you wouldn't care and probably wouldn't remember waking up anyway.)How hard is physical therapy and does it hurt?Physical Therapy isn't all that bad. Some things are easy and some are hard. One thing that is a little painful are the extension and flexion exercises. And after a while, those don't really hurt that much either. I've heard horror stories from people who say that PT (Physical Therapy) was the worst and they cried every time they had to do it, but that wasn't my experience at all. The exercises get tougher as you go, but it's a good feeling to be doing some work.

3 Easy Ways to Treat Body Acne!

Are you suffering from Body acne? or Zits below the neckline? Don’t worry. You are not alone! Lot’s of teen get body acne. It is common in the winter months, when you are wearing piles of heavy clothing.Sweat can clog skin pores and lead to breakouts all over. Other things that can cause body acne are tight fitting clothing ( It traps sweat against the skin, leading to clogged pores and blemishes) stress and hormones. Body acne commonly pops up on the chest and back.Ø To zap body acne and prevent it from coming back, you can wash your body daily with a salicylic acid based cleanser. Look for this ingredient on product labels.Ø Shower daily and be sure to shower as soon as possible anytime you have been sweating – such as after playing sports, working outside or just being in the sun. After your shower, you can follow up by a body moisturizer that contains Alfa Hydroxy acid. This will exfoliate skin and help prevent breakouts, without drying skin out.Ø At Nighttime you can treat body acne just like facial acne, by applying an acne zapping gel or cream at the effected parts.Ø If your body acne is particularly bad and wont respond to this treatment after about a month, you will probably need to see a dermatologist.

3 Easy Ways To Buy Contact Lenses Online

Trying to find the simplest way to order your contact lenses may have been a difficult feat in the past, but not anymore. With the world wide web so easily accessible to many, the availability of ordering the perfect contact lens online is great. The following paragraphs will give some valuable tips for locating contact lens online retailers and purchasing them from your computer.There are many contact lens online retailers, that offer their contact lenses for purchase via the internet. These contact lens online retailers have their own web pages, where there are descriptions of the different contact lens types available for purchase and the different contact lens styles. Most contact lens online retailers will also offer contact lens cases, cleaning solution, and other contact lens supplies for purchase.Generating a list of contact lens online retailers is a simple procedure that can be done by utilizing any search engine. By entering "contact lens online retailer" into the search engine of choice, and hitting the search button, a list of links will appear for contact lens online retailers. Clicking the different links in this list will lead to individual web pages for contact lens online retailers. From there, browsing the contact lens online retailer web page should be simple.Most contact lens online retailers have web pages that are easy to maneuver. Most of the vital information will be found on the home page, and the other information will be just as easy to view. A majority of contact lens online retailers will provide simple instructions to follow for purchasing contact lenses online, and credit card information is almost always a requirement for payment, although some contact lens online retailers will be willing to send a bill with the shipment.Ordering discount contact lenses has never been more simple. The world wide web has made it possible to purchase contact lenses through the computer. By searching the internet for contact lens online retailers, it is possible to order new contact lenses without even leaving home. With, and sometimes without a credit card, contact lens online retailers are eager to provide their services to make purchasing contact lenses a more convenient task.If you are ready to get started, click the first link to a contact lens site you find and see what they offer!

3 Easy Dieting Success Tips

1. Drink 8-10 glasses of water each dayOkay, for many people this is a big problem. Water doesn’t taste all that great generally because water doesn’t really “taste” like anything. Drinking water 8 to 10 times each day gets easier the more you actually do it. It is simply a matter of conditioning your taste buds, and yourself, so that it becomes easier to do. Once you get started, you will begin to crave water.To begin with, you should drink a glass of water in the morning first thing, before you eat. This is probably the easiest glass you will drink all day and it will help you remember to drink water all day long. Better yet, why not drink two glasses?If you really cannot bear the taste of water, try using a water purifying pitcher or filter. You can also add a few drops of lemon or lime to your water – but no sugar or sweetener! Ice also helps.Check out flavored waters on the market, too. Just keep an eye out for additives.2. Eat breakfastDo not skip breakfast. If you need to go to bed a little earlier so that you can get up 20 minutes earlier each morning – do it! Breakfast is so important to your good health and to weight control. According to Dr. Barbara Rolls a professor of nutrition at Penn State University, "Your metabolism slows while you sleep, and it doesn't rev back up until you eat again."Eating breakfast is not only good for overall weight loss, it will help you stay on track with your diet the rest of the day. You are more likely to binge on something sweet and in the “bread” group if you skip breakfast.You can always keep a couple of hard-boiled eggs in the fridge or some high-fiber, low starch fruit around. If you plan to eat fruit at all during the day, breakfast is the perfect time to do it.3. Eat at least 3 meals and snacks each dayThis can be one of the hardest adjustments to make. After all, you are busy! You already have a “full-plate”. When do you have time to worry about filling your plate with more frequent meals?Just like eating breakfast will increase your metabolism, so will eating more often. This will also help you curb your bad-carb intake by making sure that your snacks are planned and occur regularly throughout the day.Really, it will just take a minimal investment of planning time at the grocery store and at home each morning before you head out for the day to make some healthy food choices and prepare a few healthy snacks and meals.

3 Easy And Convenient Natural Skin Care Solutions

Natural skin care solutions may seem hard to find, or too overwhelmingto decide which is best for your skin. You wander the aisles trying tofigure out which ones are a real skin care solution. You trycucumbers or tea bags over your eyes, and other recipes and advise fromfriends, but none of their skin care solutions are working for you. Noneed to fret!Here are 3 easy solutions for you:1. A mixture of lavender, German chamomile, frankincense, wheat germ,grape seed, jojoba and olive oils can make great skin care for your face.It can reduce or help prevent wrinkles. You can also use these oils tocreate your own body oils and lotions. The best thing about naturalskin care is you get to customize it just for you!2. For exfoliation, you can use any of the oils mentioned above, orothers that you enjoy and mix with a salt scrub. Use this to exfoliate yourskin for soothing and relaxing, natural skin care solution.3. Some perfumes can aggravate your skin, giving you unsightly rashesand even effect your allergies. This happens because of the chemicalsused in most manufactured perfumes. You can create your own naturalperfumes with a jojoba oil base and various blends of essential oils. Mix andmatch, experiment to create a natural perfume that you enjoy.Essential oils are excellent for the creation of your own natural skincare uses. It’s also fun to make your own natural skin care solutionsusing different oils and bases! Have fun while taking care of your skinwith products that you know what ingredients are being put in it. Youcan take control of your skin care with your own natural skin caresolutions!

3 Biggest Benefits of Strength Training

Strength training is exercise that uses resistance to strengthen and condition the musculoskeletal system, improving muscle tone and endurance. "Strength training" is used as a general term synonymous with other common terms: "weightlifting" and "resistance training." Physiologically, the benefits of consistent strength training include an increase in muscle size and tone, increased muscular strength, and increases in tendon, bone, and ligament strength. Lifting weights has also been shown to improve psychological health as well, by increasing self-esteem, confidence and self-worth. Improved Physical Appearance and Performance One important result of strength training is increased physical performance. Muscles quite literally utilize energy to produce movement, functioning as the engine or powerhouse of the body. Strength training increases the muscles' size, strength, and endurance, which contribute to improvements in our work, favorite sports hobbies, and our general day-to-day activities. Another benefit of a good strength-training program is its effect on our overall appearance and body composition. Which can directly influence self-esteem, self-worth, and level of confidence. Take, for example, a 170-pound man who has 20 percent body fat; 34 pounds of fat weight and 136 pounds of lean body weight (muscle, bones, organs, water, etc). By beginning an effective strength training program, he replaces five pounds of fat with five pounds of muscle. He still weighs 170 pounds, but he is now 17 percent fat with 29 pounds of fat weight and 141 pounds of lean body weight. Although his body weight remains the same, his strength, muscle tone, and metabolism have improved, giving him a fit appearance. Both our physical appearance and our physical performance can be improved by muscle gain or hampered by muscle loss. Research indicates that unless we strength train regularly; we lose about one-half pound of muscle every year of our lives after age 30. Unless we implement a safe and effective weight lifting program, our muscles gradually decrease in size and strength in the process called "atrophy." Lifting weights is therefore important for preventing the muscle loss that normally accompanies the aging process. A common misconception is that as we reach the age of senior citizens, it is normal to stop being active and to start using ambulatory aides like canes and wheelchairs. Many people think we have no choice; they think this is normal. But this couldn't be further from the truth. There is absolutely no reason why all of us can't be physically, mentally, socially, and sexually active, living a healthy vibrant life until our last day on Earth! The reason many elderly people rely on ambulatory aides and become slower and fatter is simply that over the years their muscles have been wasting away, so their physical performance and metabolism also decrease, becoming less efficient. Increased Metabolic Efficiency (your ability to burn excess calories)That one-half pound of muscle loss every year after age 30 produces a one-half percent reduction in basal metabolic rate (BMR) every year. A reduction in BMR means that our bodies are less able to use the food we consume as energy, thus more gets stored as body fat. "Basal metabolic rate" refers to the energy used by our body at rest to maintain normal body functions. Our muscles have high-energy requirements. Even when we are sleeping, our muscles use more than 25% of our energy (calories). When you implement the principles of effective strength training and you are consistent in your program, you will achieve an increase in lean muscle mass throughout your body and increase your BMR. In other words, you can actually condition your metabolism to work better and more efficiently even when you are at rest. An increase in muscle tissue causes an increase in metabolic rate, and a decrease in muscle tissue causes a decrease in metabolic rate. You can see that anyone interested in decreasing body fat percentage and their risk of disease as well as in increasing physical performance and appearance, should be strength training to help condition their metabolism (BMR). One of the biggest mistakes people make when starting a weight-management program is not including a strength training routine with their cardiovascular exercise and low-fat eating regimen. This is unfortunate because when we cut calories without exercise, we can lose muscle as well as fat.Decreased Risk of Sustaining an InjuryOur muscles also function as shock absorbers and serve as important balancing agents throughout our body. Well-conditioned muscles help to lessen the repetitive landing forces in weight-bearing activities such as jogging or playing basketball. Well-balanced muscles reduce the risk of injuries that result when a muscle is weaker than its opposing muscle group.To reduce the risk of unbalanced muscle development, you should make sure that when you are training a specific muscle group, the opposing muscle groups are being trained as well (though not necessarily on the same day). For example, if you are doing bench-pressing exercises for your chest, you should include some rowing exercises for your back muscles as well. By now you have probably realized that weightlifting should be an important part of your exercise routine. Weightlifting provides many important benefits that cannot be achieved by any other exercise or activity. When you begin achieving great results, the excitement and fun you experience will make the change well worth the effort. Good luck; I hope you enjoy all the wonderful benefits of an effective strength training program.

3 Amazing Ways to Shape Up Your Muscles in Less Than 7 days!

Imagine you need to look great to get all the attention at the biggest party of the year. The cloak has already started ticking and you have got 7 days to fix yourself for the D-Day. If you can take out 15 to 30 minutes in the next few days, you can be ready for action.Step 1:Exercise: Start with skipping and jogging and chin-ups by hanging from a rod for warming up.Two steps of crunches or sit-ups for strengthening and toning your abdominal muscles.Then go for Flat bench press and dumbbell flyers for the entire chest area, focusing mainly on the inner chest and followed by 2 sets of push-ups.Work on your trapezium for the collar muscle and shoulder pressing.For biceps the exercise to be followed is standing barbell curl.Next you can work out on your Triceps with Single dumbbell or French press and fore forearms.Skipping will have an effect on your legs, other wise you can go for Squats and back with lat pull down.Step 2:Diets are just as important as exercise, because it is the most important part of getting the body you want. You have to eat good to look good. You need protein, and you don’t need fat. Stay away from junk and fatty foods. Not all fat is bad; there is a healthy fat. This fat can be found in fish, Nuts and some oils. Have Lots of fibers such as leafy vegetables, salads and daily products.Step 3: The results though wont come easily and they wont come very fast either, So Stay dedicated, motivated and consistent, and do all 3 steps correctly to get the desired result.

3 Amazing ways to Shape up in Less than 7 days!

Imagine you need to look great to get all the attention at the biggest party of the year. The cloak has already started ticking and you have got 7 days to fix yourself for the D-Day. If you can take out 15 to 30 minutes in the next few days, you can be ready for action.Step 1:>> Exercise: Start with skipping and jogging and chin-ups by hanging from a rod for warming up.>> Two steps of crunches or sit-ups for strengthening and toning your abdominal muscles.>> Then go for Flat bench press and dumbbell flyers for the entire chest area, focusing mainly on the inner chest and followed by 2 sets of push-ups.>> Work on your trapezium for the collar muscle and shoulder pressing.>> For biceps the exercise to be followed is standing barbell curl.>> Next you can work out on your Triceps with Single dumbbell or French press and fore forearms.>> Skipping will have an effect on your legs, other wise you can go for Squats and back with lat pull down.Step 2:Diets are just as important as exercise, because it is the most important part of getting the body you want. You have to eat good to look good. You need protein, and you don’t need fat. Stay away from junk and fatty foods. Not all fat is bad; there is a healthy fat. This fat can be found in fish, Nuts and some oils. Have Lots of fibers such as leafy vegetables, salads and daily products.Step 3: The results though wont come easily and they wont come very fast either, So Stay dedicated, motivated and consistent, and do all 3 steps correctly to get the desired result.

2 Ways to Start Burning fat Quickly

1. Start Exercising first thing in the morning.As soon as you wake up in the morning workout for at least 30min to an hour. Studies show that working out in the morning has been shown to burn up to 3x as more fat as opposed to working out at any other time during the day. Here’s Why:During the day your body’s main source of energy is the carbohydrates that you get from eating your meals. As you sleep at night for 6+ hours your body uses up all those carbohydrates as energy for various bodily functions that go on even while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning your body doesn’t have any carbohydrates as energy to use and it will look to burn body fat instead for energy. For you to take advantage of this morning fat burning opportunity you have to exercise first thing in the morning. Don’t eat breakfast because if you do you’ll just give your body some carbohydrates as a source of energy instead of the body fat that you want to burn for energy. Another great thing about working out first thing in the morning is that your metabolism gets revved up after your morning workout. Morning workouts keep your metabolism elevated throughout the day. An elevated metabolism throughout the day only means that you’ll burn more calories and lose more weight. If you workout at night you may still burn fat while you workout but as soon as you go to sleep your metabolism will slow down and you’ll miss out on all the extra fat that you can burn during the day if you had exercised in the morning. When you sleep your metabolic rate is always at its slowest.Other reasons why its good to exercise first thing in the morning is that you get the workout out of the way, and working out in the morning will also reduce your level of stress throughout the day.Advanced Tip: Want to burn even more fat? Add another workout to your daily routine 4-6 hours after your morning workout. Keep your already high metabolism higher by adding a 2nd workout during the day. If you're seriously thinking about adding a 2nd workout to your daily routine then try to do your cardio workouts in the morning. Mostly fat calories are burned doing cardio at a moderate intensities. Make your 2nd workout of the day a workout with weights. Mostly carbohydrate is burned doing weight-training workouts. The muscle that you build from weight training will also help you burn fat. 1lb of Muscle burns 50 calories a day or 1lb of fat every 70 days. Not only will you be burning more calories, you’ll look better – whatever your weight is.2. Eat BreakfastAnother way to keep your metabolism revved up all day long is to eat breakfast. After you workout in the morning as discussed earlier, just have breakfast and you’ll give your body the perfect 1-2 combination to jump start your metabolism.Eating breakfast in the morning is what gets your metabolism started. Don’t skip breakfast and wait until mid-morning or afternoon to eat, your metabolism will run slower causing you not burn any extra fat.Think about this way-Your metabolism is a fireplace that’ll burn fat all day long for you if you operate it correctly. When you eat breakfast you are basically throwing a log onto that fireplace to get it started burning fat. Eating breakfast will help stop those cravings you may have later on in the day and along with working out in the morning, eating breakfast will also keep you energized throughout the day and lower stress levels.Advanced Tip: Instead of eating only 2 more meals during the day like lunch & dinner, try to eat 4-5 more small mini-meals spaced 2-3 hours apart during the day. Remember the fireplace? By eating these mini-meals you'll be throwing just the right amount of "wood" on the fireplace to keep your metabolism burning calories throughout the day. Don't shut down your metabolism by eating big lunches or dinners, keep that metabolism of yours burning fat all day long.Morning Checklist
Workout for at least 30min after waking up in the morning Eat a healthy breakfast Burn fat & lose more weight during the day
Use these 2 tips to reveal that six-pack, fit into that dress for an upcoming event like a wedding or reunion, or to impress that special someone. Whatever your fitness goal is these 2 tips above will surely help you reach them.

2 Steps To Six Pack Abs

First off, I want to mention that, for most people, getting six pack abs is not an easy task. It requires dedication, but it is possible! Below is a general 2-step guide that, if followed religiously for 3 months, will produce results. Step 1: NutritionThis is the single most important part of the puzzle, hands down. You can have the most impressive set of abs, but if they're covered with a layer of fat, you won't see them! Break up your day with 5 or 6 mini-meals because this jump starts your metabolism. And stop eating the food that is preventing results: white bread, loads of pasta, soda, candy, fast food, hydrogenated oils, sugars and fructose corn syrup.Instead, replace them with foods that will help you reach your goal: oatmeal, olive oil, whole grain breads, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs, natural peanut butter, chicken, fish, protein and water. Be realistic- you'll slip here and there, but make a conscious effort to radically improve your eating habits because getting a six pack will be impossible if you don't.Step 2: ExerciseYou need to concern yourself with 3 different exercises: cardio, weightlifting and ab exercises. And aim to workout 3- 4 times a week.The cardio you do can be anything: walking, running, biking, swimming....whichever cardio you don't mind doing so that you'll stick with it. Aim for 30-45 minutes, a minimum of 2 times a week.Weightlifting is important because 3 pounds of added muscle burns as many calories as a 1 mile jog...and this is while you're just sitting around! Aim for 30-45 minutes, a minimum of 2 times a week. If you're confused as to what exercises to do for each body part, check out out the following website. It features professional bodybuilders, but the information is great and can be used by anyone.http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exercises.htmThe last exercise you need to incorporate into your workout is ab exercises. Aim to work your abs a minimum of 3 times a week. There are a ton of different ab exercises you can do so try to find 3 or so that you enjoy doing so you can mix it up. A good database of different ab exercises is:http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/exername.php?MainMuscle=AbdominalsTip: mix up your workout routine every 2 weeks to keep your body guessing and changing. Add or take away different weight or ab exercises, or at the very least, vary the weight, reps or form of cardio you do.Well, there you have it. Follow the above for 3 months religiously, and while results will vary from person to person, you will experience improvement. It will take dedication on your part, but imagine the feeling you'll get when you look in the mirror and like what you see.

2 Exercises to Avoid

If you want a good night, then avoid two of these old school moves.Good Mornings:Although I can't say I've seen these moves done in quite some time, I know that growing up I saw plenty of pictures of how the move should be done. If I had more then 3 wishes left in this lamp, I wish that somebody would go find every book and every website with this exercise and cross it out with a Sharpie pen. I have a very good friend, who will remain nameless, that gave me another tidbit of advice. He's been instrumental in helping me train legs. I've never pushed myself so hard. So when he gives advice, I know it's coming from a reliable source that's much better then any scientific study. He began with some good mornings. At first it was the bar. Then it was 20 lbs. on each side. Pretty soon he was doing 225 lbs. That's a lot of weight. But having the strength to do it and the youth, he pushed on. Until one day, POP! Forward he went, with 225 lbs. How he didn't break his neck is somewhat of a miracle. As with any exercise, and the motivation of a bodybuilder, we will continue to push ourselves to new limits. But some exercises just don't produce any results worth the inherent risks associated. Good mornings are one of those exercises. There are many other options for compound movements that do the same thing but with much less of a risk. So skip the good mornings and try some dead-lifts or stiff-legged dead-lifts. You won't be missing out on anything by skipping the good mornings except maybe weeks of recovery or a broken neck.Lat Pull-downs Behind the Neck:No story to go with this one, but think about it. Eventually you'll be doing some heavy weight. In a very unnatural position. That is a recipe for injury. It's much more natural and safe to do the same movement to the front. Either way your lats are getting worked. But behind the neck puts pressure on the shoulders which isn't the muscle group you are trying work.This same philosophy goes for pull-ups. They should be done to the front as well. If you do pull-downs, try doing it to the front. Don't even think about behind the neck as they won't do any more for you except possibly give your an excuse not to do any more pull-downs.

1-2-3, Weight Loss & Maintenance Has Become So Easy

Millions of people spend billions of dollars, hoping to achieve the same thing, effective weight management. For years, many people have struggled to maintain a healthy weight and body. With a majority of Americans being overweight or even obese, the problem has grown into a crisis. Nearly 300,000 people die each year from weight-related disease.Every week seems to bring out the next fad diet designed to help you "shed the pounds." The problem is that most of these programs are not effective. Some work for a few days, but the weight comes back. Others are downright unhealthy. From products to exercise equipment, people are looking for the answer to their weight-management problem.We believe the key to effective weight-management is a lifestyle of health. The pH Factor Weight-Management System combines a sensible eating plan, exercise, water consumption, and superior nutrition to help you create a lifestyle of health.We feel the missing key to this challenge for many is the pH factor. Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The typical diet consists of foods that when digested create acid that is put into the blood. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems. Fat is one of the primary buffers used by the body to help deal with acid. When the body cannot neutralize acid, it stores it in fat cells.When attempting to lose fat, we typically cut calories. But, if our system remains acidic, then instead of burning fat, which would release more acid into the system, the body burns muscle instead. The pH Factor Weight-Management System helps you to identify those foods that are creating excess acid in the system and also provides products that are alkaline. This combination can help you to raise your body pH, thereby creating an environment for health.Tired of fighting to lose weight only to gain it back, again and again. It is a horrible cycle. Not only is it depressing, it is unhealthy. ForMor has discovered what we feel to be the missing key to long-term weight management. It is the pH Factor.Welcome to the pH Factor Rapid Weight-Loss System. Success with this system requires strict adherence to the system. Failure to follow the system reduces the effectiveness of the system and lessens your chances of accomplishing the desired result.A lifestyle of health is paramount to weight-management and health. This includes: sensible eating, moderate and consistent exercise, sufficient water consumption, and a good nutritional program. The pH Factor Rapid Weight-Loss System combines these into a simple plan. For the next 14 days, we are going to transform your body into a more effective, fat-burning machine. Order your products a get started TODAY.you'll be glad you did!!!The pH Factor"pH" or "potential for hydrogen" is the measure used to determine whether something is an acid or alkaline. It is measured on a scale from 0 - 14, with 6.8 - 7.0 being considered neutral. Anything below 6.8 is considered acid, and anything above 7.4 is considered alkaline. The pH of the blood is just over 7.3. If blood pH is altered, major problems, including death, are imminent. Therefore, the body has multiple buffers in place to make sure the blood pH remains constant.The primary buffers the body uses are: sodium, calcium, and body fat. When acid is present in the blood, the body looks to neutralize it with an alkaline substance. The primary neutralizing agent is sodium, then calcium. The body actually takes calcium from the bones in order to neutralize blood acid. If it cannot be easily neutralized, then the body stores the acid in the fat cells. That creates a major weight-management problem.Let's look at how this all works. Like any machine, our body needs fuel in order operate. Unfortunately, the fuel or food that most people use is not what the body needs or desires. In order to operate at peak efficiency, the body needs the proper food. The typical diet is high in food with little to no food value.The problem goes much deeper than just lower efficiency. Like any machine, the fuel that we burn creates exhaust or by-products, sometimes called ash. In the body, our food is burned as fuel on the cellular level. The blood is the vehicle used to carry the food to the cell, and is also used to carry the waste or exhaust away from the cell to be eliminated.When raw fruits and vegetables are consumed, the body breaks it down and sends it to the cells for fuel. The cell burns the fuel and the exhaust is an alkaline ash. When food from the typical diet is burned as fuel, the exhaust created is an acid ash. That acid is then carried in the blood.Since blood pH is so critical to life, the body protects the blood at all costs. The body has to neutralize this acid or risk major problems.Our goal then is to reduce the amount of food that creates an acidic ash and increase the foods that create an alkaline ash.Effects of AcidAcid in the body acts very much like acid outside the body. It creates waste. It ages the skin, degenerates tissues, and causes major problems. Additionally, most health concerns are created by an over abundance of acid in the system. Reducing acid in the system is critical to long-term health.Many people love to drink a can of soda. If you look on the label, you will discover that a can of soda primarily contains acid. The pH of a soda is around 2.3. That is highly toxic. The body has to scramble to neutralize that acid in the system. It uses sodium, calcium from the bones or teeth, or anything else it has to in order to neutralize the acid.Part of this system includes a slight change in some of the foods that we normally would eat. We understand that most people will not eliminate all the bad food from their diet, so instead of eliminating it, we are going to suggest a strategy of reduction.WaterMost people are dehydrated. Drinking sufficient amounts of good water is critical to your success. In order to determine your water needs, convert your body weight to ounces and divide it by two (2), and that is how many ounces of water you should consume each day. Pure water is the only thing that counts toward your daily intake. Even water mixed with Pro Factor Shakes does not count toward your daily needs. For best results, you should drink only distilled water charged with the Crystal Catalyst Concentrate. Mix one-half (½) ounce of Crystal Catalyst Concentrate to one (1) gallon of distilled water.ExerciseBuilding lean muscle, burning additional calories, and improving overall health are just some of the benefits of consistent exercise. For the next 14 days, commit to doing some sort of physical activity for at least 20 minutes a day for ten (10) of the 14 days of this program. That may include: walking, jogging, riding a bike, playing with your kids or grandkids, or other activities like, chasing your spouse around the house, that will raise your heart rate. Make it something you enjoy. Just commit to it for the next two weeks.ExtremesIn life, balance is to be desired. When anything is done to excess, we are in danger of getting out of balance. Usually it is not one piece of cake, or one soda that does us in. It is when sodas, cakes, and other acid-producing foods are consumed in excess that we create problems. You can even get out of balance on the other side. The life span of most professional athletes and vegetarians, is actually less than some couch potatoes. But, we need to identify the things we are doing in excess in our food consumption, and make some extreme choices on how to bring those into balance.For instance, one customer was drinking 6-8 diet sodas per day. For him, it was an extreme choice to eliminate diet sodas from his daily life, but that was one of the extreme choices he has made. For others it may be 6-8 cups of coffee, or two desserts per day, or the mid-afternoon candy bars. We do not suggest that you necessarily quit these types of things cold turkey. Rather, start to exercise some discipline and control over yourself in these things. Instead of eight sodas a day, drink only two. Instead of four cups of coffee, drink only one or two. Instead of four packs of sugar in your tea, maybe only one or two. Instead of a late night snack, drink two glasses of water charged with the Crystal Catalyst Concentrate. Instead of always taking the elevator, take the stairs once a day. Maybe reduce your portion sizes when you eat. When you go to a buffet, maybe just go through once. Remove from your thinking the idea that when you go to a buffet, "you have to get your money's worth," by eating as much as you can. The purpose of eating is to give you enough fuel to get to the next meal and nothing more. For best results, we strongly suggest that you make some extreme choices.

“Weight Loss.” The Strength in Setting Goals, Achieving Objectives and The Power of Intention.

The act of taking the first step is what separates the winners from the losers. -Brian TracyObjectives and goal setting and a desire or an intention to meet said goals and objectives is, undoubtedly the most imperative piece of the puzzle when attempting to achieve anything worthwhile in life. And as Brian Tracy has outlined here, it is indeed the act of taking the first step and then following through that will separate the winners from the losers. Clearly defining what it is that you want is where it all starts and Weight Loss is no different! The potency of your objectives and the power of your intention will totally aid in the clarity and sharpness of outlining your goals. So if you truly want to achieve permanent Weight Loss, you must completely see yourself ‘lean’ or ‘lighter’ with absolute lucidity! It can happen to you. You’ve heard it before; life is a journey, not a destination... Enjoy the trip, but know where you’re going, it’s easier to get there!Brushing your teeth, washing your hair, ‘showing up’ at work regularly and sleeping are all habitual rituals, they are daily practices that promote or provide either assurance, insurance, functionality or the opportunity to continue to have or use something that you probably want to keep... Stop doing these rituals and decay, breakdown or unemployment occurs, which just causes a downward spiral of unpleasant events. Although this sounds a bit funny, the reality is your body functions or DIS-functions in the same way, practice daily effective, proactive rituals and ta...da... you either attain, maintain or achieve the object or objective desired. Exercise and nutrition are often perplexing topics, usually shrouded in mystery, but need not be. Knowledge and application of knowledge are not the same thing; they are quite separate and distinct. Knowing how to do something and doing it is where the line is drawn and having an intention, coupled with an objective acts as the proverbial driver behind the wheel...and placing intention into the subconscious mind is like stepping on the gas pedal, which in turn produces action or OBJECTIVE. Can you remember when you were young and wanted something so bad that nothing else mattered? That thing that drove you was desire and if you actually did get that ‘object’ of desire, well that was intention that propelled you to go out and get or “receive” that object. Goals or objectives motivate and generate oomph, you know...that get-up-and-go, they are the steam that wakes you up, gets you to work, helps you focus and aids in the process of achievement. Emotion married to objective is fuel for accomplishment. Develop a sense of purpose, a reason why and combine that purpose with your desire and your emotionally stimulated intention, put this desire, intention and purpose in writing and since we’re talking about Weight Loss, this could be that desire. With laser-focused accuracy, picture a ‘clear-vision’ of how you see yourself in ‘fighting’ condition, we call this “visualizing” and remain focused using all of these components and guess what... It will happen... Yes, time patience, persistence, effort and action are required, but you will reap what you sow, it is an unfailing fact. Positive reinforcement, now this is the next phase... Any suggestion that you plant into your subconscious mind is used, if it’s negative.... Negative results, if it’s positive... Positive results! If you know what to do, but you can’t seem to get yourself to do it, you’ve probably been giving negative or conflicting messages to your subconscious mind. The behaviors that are produced by subconscious conditioning are more commonly referred to as habits. Fortunately, you can re-program your subconscious mind with positive instructions and become a creature of positive habit, just as easily as you can become a victim of negative habits. It all begins with a conscious decision and written objectives.Attention to intentionThe mind... It’s a terrible thing...to waste that is! I am always stunned at the similarities that we all share and on the flip-side, stunned at how different we are. So simple, yet so complex...and when it comes to the exercising of our mental capacities, well this is where some have signs of mastery and others, as if a sleeping giant lies dormant! I have worked with thousands of people through the years and what is remarkable is in all the training and nutrition programs I’ve designed for such unique purposes, almost all of them fall into similar distinctive mind-sets, either they possess the desire and intent to accomplish something great; or they feel that they are losing something that they want badly enough to keep! The sine qua non or upshot is, if you want to get in amazing shape, all you really have to do is make up your mind and “intend” to accomplish your objective. You build that body of your desire by setting goals and focusing your attention on them. Setting into motion this attentive intent is the positive action required to impel you on-ward and up-ward. Exercise and eating right are only two components in the matrix of this program and in all honesty, if you don’t properly tune that focus ‘in’, the best of programs or intentions will not eliminate the natural tendency to ‘bail-out’ before success has arrived. Self defeat is the ‘killer-of-giants’, where success is concerned. The whole concept of setting goals and having objectives to aspire to works because it activates the mechanism of the all-powerful subconscious mind, which in-turn activates the application of intention, which as you might of guessed... produces results.SuccessThe theme here is to take control of your own mind; success will be found when you become proactive about your ‘destination’ and take the proper steps required to ‘arrive’. It is truly about the tremendous power of self-control and self-reliance. These are inner resources, which you already possess, which you have always possessed. You may not have realized that you have these abilities, but they are there, as latent as they may be...they are there! You may not have used them or you may have underemployed them, it’s not uncommon. Change can happen, but first you must decide that change is what you indeed want and move with reckless abandon toward that change. With all the necessary tools and the proper mindset in place and in proper form you can achieve anything and I mean anything! So, get ready to succeed and to live a life of true conviction and purpose. The Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle wrote, "Have a purpose in life, and throw yourself into your work with all the strength of mind and muscle as God has given." Beautiful! And until next time, Good luck and may God be with you…

"The Two Sides of Medicine"

Throughout time there have always been two opposing points of view as to how to maintain good health, or how to regain it after having lost it. This conflict has continued since ancient times ... and no doubt will continue well into the future. One 'side' believes good health is as a result of outside intervention... drugs, surgery etc. The other 'side' believes that good health results from living in harmony with natural law... correct nutrition... cleanliness etc. The ancient Greeks had terms for these two groups of people. As was often the case in those days each group came under the umbrella of a 'god'. One was 'Asklepios'... the god of medicine, whose proponents advocated the 'intervention' approach. These people were known as 'Asklepians'. Those who believed that the secret of good health resulted from living in harmony with nature looked up to 'Hygeia'... Goddess of health. These people were known as 'Hygeian'. Asklepians versus Hygeian Both sides tended to be critical of the other... nothing much has changed over the ages. Modern mainstream western medicine takes the 'Asklepian' approach. However, in recent years the Hygeian approach which has always been the underlying principle behind Chinese traditional medicine has gained much ground. The increase in the popularity of the 'Hygeian' approach is no doubt due to a combination of several factors:
Dissatisfaction of traditional mainstream medicine. Increasing cases of medical 'misadventure'. (Hospitals are places to stay away from) Awareness that good health is primarily a personal responsibility... not of overworked physicians. An increasing awareness that the medical industry is highly influenced by drug companies and that there are often better, safer and more economic natural alternatives to drugs.
In spite of this justified 'swing' away from mainstream medicine, mainstream medicine does have a place in everyone's health program ... apart from the obvious ones in treating accident cases or chronic urgent illness. So, if you are already a 'Hygeian' don't over look the benefits that mainstream medicine can offer to you in your overall quest for good health and longevity. These benefits are primarily in the early detection of a pending disease that you may not as yet be aware of! An example Let's assume that you are over 40 years of age... you are healthy, fit and not overweight. You eat well, you don't smoke, don't drink excessively and rarely get sick. You probably think that you will live forever... well at least into ripe old age! Right? Maybe... or maybe not. Reflect on this for a moment. Have you ever known anyone around this age that has died suddenly to your amazement because you thought they were so healthy? That person may even have been a competitive athlete! Let me tell you a true story. About 15 years ago a friend of mine who was around 40, a former competitive body builder who was still in great shape and extremely fit was at a lake water-skiing. He was watching some young water-skiers doing some 'tricks'. Being the competitive person that he was he waited until they came in and went down to the waters edge and said "Now, I'll show you how to really do it". Those were the last words he ever uttered... a couple of minutes later he was lying on the ground dead of a massive heart attack. My friend died instantly. He could just as easily had a stroke which he may or may not have recovered from... which would also have been a major tragedy. Tragedies can often be avoided Tragedies like this happen every day and the results are devastating not only to the victims but also their families, friends and loved ones. Sadly, many of these tragedies could have been averted ... if more people were aware of their risk factors and could correct any abnormalities before it was too late! Now back to the point of this story. My friend died of a blockage in his artery. Only takes one! If 15 years ago the technology for measuring ALL the 'predictors' which indicate your risk of such an event were available AND my friend had understood what they meant he would probably still be showing those young fellows how to do water-skiing tricks! How many thousands of people are still dying needlessly because they do not know how to take advantage of current technology ... or, in some cases are so opposed to mainstream medicine that they do not take advantage of the 'good'parts! OK... what should you do? First of all, if you are over 35 and have not had a blood test within the last few years ... arrange one... NOW! Get a general one, which tests for:
Cholesterol. Both LDL and HDL Triglycerides Homocysteine Lipoproteins Liver Function Renal Function Plasma Glucose
If you are a man over 40 make sure you also have a PSA. (Prostate Specific Antigen) test) Hint: There is recent evidence that suggests that if you have had sex within the previous 72 hours your PSA levels could be affected. Play it safe and abstain for 2 - 3 days before your test. Irrespective of your gender ask your physician if any other tests are also recommended for you. If each test is within the normal range, that's great, you can rest easy knowing that you are unlikely to be subject to any immediate health risk. You can then direct your efforts towards improving the way you feel and slowing down your aging process. If any of your tests are abnormal you will need to do something about bringing them back to within 'normal' ranges ... and possibly be subject to more tests. It is the treatment of any abnormalities from these blood tests that create a potential conflict between 'Askelepians' and 'Hygeians'. Here is an example of potential conflict Let's say your tests show that your cholesterol is 'out of whack', your 'mainstream' physician may first propose lowering your intake of diet cholesterol. That's unlikely to be successful as ingested cholesterol only makes up a relatively small percentage of blood cholesterol. They will next likely propose one of the cholesterol lowering drugs commonly known as 'statins'. These are drugs that work by blocking an enzyme that your liver needs to manufacture cholesterol. (Up to 80% of your blood cholesterol is manufactured by your liver, NOT from the ingestion of cholesterol within your diet). These statin drugs are very powerful and have been known to cause serious side effects including deaths. In fact Bayers were recently forced to withdraw their statin drug from the market place because of 'unacceptable' levels of fatalities. In spite of these risks, sales of statin drugs amount to billions of dollars per year and are commonly prescribed. It's ironic that there are natural alternatives to these statin drugs which can assist in lowering cholesterol, and do it safely, and without side effects. But the general public hears very little about them as they are not patentable and there is not the financial incentive for the big corporate's to promote them. The same principle applies for many different ailments. There can be many legitimate methods of treatments. What is important is that you seek out the natural alternatives and apply them before agreeing to subject yourself to the negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs are 'blockers' whereas natural remedies are 'enablers' Pharmaceutical drugs are 'blockers' and do not normally heal the underlying ailment. They generally work by suppressing natural functions such as certain enzymes which I mentioned earlier when giving the 'statin' example. Because of this process, results are often 'instant' and as such there is sometimes a place for these powerful prescription drugs in the case of life threatening emergencies. In contrast, natural products such as herbs, vitamins etc are 'enablers'. They work at correcting the cause of the ailment which is often a nutrient deficiency of some sort. The results are not immediate and have to be measured in weeks, or even months. If you have a serious ailment, work with your physician to try and correct it... by first using natural remedies. If she or he is not familiar with the treatment you would like to try, do some further research and get hold of supporting information so you are in a better position to discuss the options intelligently. If your physician has a closed mind to natural remedies it may be wise to ask around and find another qualified physician with an open mind.

"The New Biology of Health" -- The Way To Perpetual Health?

Just what is the “New Biology of Health?” And who’s the snake oil salesperson promoting certain products as the cure-all for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease? Does it work? Simply put, the “New Biology of Health” is about maintaining your body’s acid/alkaline balance or pH level. The ideal pH level, as measured by saliva, urine, or blood tests, is slightly alkaline. Dr. Robert O. Young, cellular biologist and author of the “pH Miracle,” teaches that our American lifestyles and diets destroy cellular health. Stress, the environment, and especially acid foods (almost everything you eat except for certain fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts) force your body’s cells into unhealthy, acidic states. And, the state of your cells determines your overall health. Basically, our lifestyles and diets make us sick, tired, and susceptible to viruses and bacteria as well as accelerating aging. Take a look at the pharmaceutical intake of people in our culture. It seems the number of pills you take is directly proportional to your age! The Rebalancing Act -- Getting to the “pH Miracle” OK, so where’s the miracle? It’s called pH balancing . . . restore your pH level to slightly alkaline via a cleansing process, and you’re back in good health; no, the best heath of your life. But wait, you must maintain the correct pH level, so lose the meat, eggs, sugary fruits, desserts, dairy products, coffee, diet soda, and bread. And, oh, by the way, drink so much water spiked with SuperGreens (grass) and pH booster that you triple the number of daily trips to the rest room. Is It Worth the Effort? Why subject yourself to such a radical change? Many people will never even try rebalancing because they may think you have to be a food nerd to alkalize. But, there are thousands of others who swear the “alkalarian” lifestyle dramatically improves their health and enjoy a salad for breakfast! Let’s take a look at an example of someone who’s motivated to “get healthy” and regain that “youthful” feeling. Here’s a Real-Life Example Rachael Boomher, age 55 and slightly overweight, suffered from chronic fatigue, high blood pressure and cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and borderline glaucoma. A few years ago, a routine test showed precancerous cells. Surgical intervention “corrected” this condition. (FYI -- Rachael is an actual person, not a product of the author's imagination.) Is Rachael a typical middle-aged baby boomer? Yes, but with a major difference . . . she believes that being sick, tired, and generally unhealthy can be changed . . . disregarding what doctors say about her “genes” and the culture’s expectations about age-related health conditions. Her mission – to regain and maintain her health – is an obsession. For several years, the mission was unsuccessful. Then she discovered “Living Health.” In this CD program, Tony Robbins, the motivational guru/crusader, describes Dr. Young’s “New Biology of Health.” Although it sounded extreme, Rachael learned that Tony had tested it on himself and thousands of his followers with positive results. And isn’t Tony the original energizer bunny? Still, Rachael is a natural skeptic, so she researched Dr. Young, and found hundreds of incredible testimonials about improvements to people’s health. She also discovered mixed reviews of his books. It seemed that Dr. Young was viewed as either a mad scientist or a life saver. Launching the pH Balancing Program Deciding to try pH balancing despite the critics’ negative reviews, she eased into the program, starting with the swamp juice (SuperGreens) and pH drops. Over the next month, she decreased the amounts of the most acid foods in her diet . . . red meat, sugar, pasta, dairy products, eggs, and processed foods. She added vegetables and salads, substituted grapefruit for oranges, almond milk for cow’s milk, almond butter for peanut butter, and filtered water for tap water. As Rachael’s pH levels increased and her body eliminated deadly toxins, she felt more and more energized. She actually craved alkaline foods. Note that even though the desire to consume acidic foods diminished, she held onto a long-time daily habit of café au lait. The 30-Day Experiment Pays Off! Rachel’s experiment with the pH Balancing program resulted in 2 big payoffs: a major boost in energy and the loss of more than 10 pounds with no effort. Really . . . no effort at all! These results may seem unspectacular; but to Rachael, they represent a new beginning. Instead of pushing herself to get through each day and then collapsing on the couch at night, she thinks more clearly, acts more quickly, and has energy to spare for her family and hobbies. She anticipates that key indicators such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure will drop, especially if she continues to follow the program with the same level of enthusiasm she had initially. What the pH Miracle Means to You If you’re weary of being sick and tired, stop blaming everyone and everything but yourself. Pity party be gone! Discover the “New Biology of Health.” Start with the following web sites: www.snyderhealth.com www.phmiracleliving.com Before you decide that you cannot possibly give up your acid lifestyle, diet soda, juicy steaks, or fast food, try pH balancing for 10 days. Not a lifetime, just 10 days. You’ll feel much better, especially if you have health challenges like Rachael. Honestly, it’s NOT tough to grow old; we make it tough with our diet and lifestyles. Please be aware that at first, SuperGreens and pH drops seem a wee bit pricey. But eventually, you may quit using prescriptions and some supplements. SuperGreens will then seem less costly overall because you’re able to eliminate other expenses. And after all, what is the price of perpetual youth?